Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has created a bipartisan task force that will focus on lowering the cost of prescription drug prices. The Prescription Drug Task Force will consist of leaders from government agencies including the departments of Health and Human Services, and Michigan Legislators among others.
The initiative was first announced at the State of the State Address and made official in an Executive Order (2020-01) signed on Friday. Prices for the most commonly prescribed drugs for older patients have increased at more than 10 times the rate of inflation within five years according to supporting documents from the state, and the average cost of prescription drugs increased nearly 60 percent between 2012 and 2017, while income increased only 11 percent.
In an attempt to lower prices, the Prescription Drug Task Force will recommend legislative and administrative actions that can be taken to increase transparency in the pricing of prescription drugs to lower costs for Michigan families. The Prescription Drug Task Force will be housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
